'alchemy' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-kīmiyā', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'kīmiyā' meant 'philosopher's stone'.

'al-kīmiyā' transformed into the Old French word 'alquemie', and eventually became the modern English word 'alchemy' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'the art of transmuting metals', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination'.